In modern food, nutraceutical, and beverage industries, the stick pack packaging machine has become one of the most popular solutions for single-serve convenience. From sports nutrition powders to instant coffee, from pharmaceutical gels to flavored drinks, stick packs and sachets deliver efficiency, hygiene, and portability that customers expect today.
This article explores how stick pack and sachet packaging machines work, why they matter for supplements and beverages, and how to choose the best option for your factory
What Is a Stick Pack Packaging Machine?
stick pack packaging machine is an automatic vertical form-fill-seal system designed to produce long, narrow pouches commonly called “sticks.” These pouches typically hold 1–20 grams of powders, liquids, or gels.
The machine performs multiple steps in one cycle:
Film unwinding and forming into tubular shape.
Vertical sealing to create stick pouches.
Precise dosing and filling of powders, liquids, or gels.
Horizontal sealing and cutting to separate finished packs.
Compared with larger sachets, stick packs use up to 40% less film material, reducing costs and environmental impact.
Why Supplements and Beverages Need Stick Packs？
Supplements and ready-to-drink products are booming globally. The single-serve stick format brings unique advantages:
Hygiene & Safety – Each pack is hermetically sealed, keeping powders and gels safe from contamination.
Portability – Consumers can carry sticks anywhere: gyms, offices, or while traveling.
Accurate Dosing – Each stick contains a consistent portion, critical for pharmaceutical gels or nutrition powders.
Extended Shelf Life – Multi-layer laminates and precise sealing extend product stability.
Cost Efficiency – Less packaging material, faster throughput, and reduced shipping weight
For market trends and adoption insights, see PMMI packaging industry insights
How Does a Stick Pack Packaging Machine Work?
1. Film Feeding & Forming
Large film rolls are loaded, tension-controlled, and formed into narrow tubes using forming collars.
2. Sealing
The machine uses heated sealing jaws to create vertical seals, turning flat film into stick tubes.
3. Product Dosing & Filling
Servo-driven augers (for powders) or piston pumps (for liquids and gels) dose precise quantities. This ensures compliance for nutraceutical and pharmaceutical gel stick pack packaging machines where dosage accuracy is critical.
Liquids and gels use sanitary piston pumps with CIP-friendly contact parts. For regulated categories, review FDA nutraceutical packaging guidance
4. Cutting & Output
After filling, horizontal sealing jaws close the stick ends. Rotary knives cut sticks apart, ready for cartoning or secondary packaging.
Specialized Applications
These machines are designed for oral gel, probiotics, and medical supplements. They often include stainless steel contact parts, GMP compliance, and ±0.1 g dosing accuracy.
Ideal for whey protein, collagen, creatine, and vitamins. Multi-lane designs can produce 4–12 sticks simultaneously, reaching up to 600 packs per minute.
Silica Gel Stick Pack Packaging Machines
Used for desiccants in food, pharma, and electronics packaging. Machines integrate automatic cutting and filling of small granular silica beads into moisture-proof film.
While stick packs are long and slim, sachet packing machines produce square or rectangular pouches. They are more suitable for larger volumes of condiments, ketchup, or instant drink powders. Many factories run both machine types to cover different product SKUs.
Benefits of Using a Stick Pack Packaging Machine
- Higher Efficiency – Multi-lane operation boosts throughput.
- Lower Packaging Cost – 30–40% less material compared with traditional sachets.
- Improved Accuracy – Servo augers ensure consistent fill weights.
- Consumer Convenience – Single-serve, tear-open sticks improve brand value.
- Flexibility – Handles powders, liquids, gels, and even granules.
- Compliance Ready – GMP and FDA-compliant designs for nutraceuticals.
- ROI in Months – Many producers see a return within 3–6 months thanks to labor savings.
How to Choose the Best Stick Pack Machine？
When selecting equipment, consider:
Number of Lanes (2–12, depending on speed requirements).
Product Type (powder, liquid, gel, silica granules).
Film Material (laminated PET/PE, paper-based eco films).
Output Speed (200–960 packs/min).
Automation Integration (cartoners, case packers).
👉 For supplements, a food supplement powder stick pack packaging machine with 6–10 lanes is common.
👉 For pharma gels, opt for pharmaceutical gel stick pack packaging machines with higher hygiene standards
The stick pack packaging machine has transformed supplement and beverage packaging by combining efficiency, portability, and hygiene. Whether you are producing collagen powders, sports nutrition, pharmaceutical gels, or silica gel desiccants, there is a machine configuration designed for your needs.
Investing in the right stick pack or sachet packing machine can cut costs, boost output, and delight consumers with convenient single-serve formats. For factories competing in global markets, this upgrade is no longer optional—it’s the standard
FAQs
Q1: What’s the difference between a stick pack packaging machine and a sachet packing machine?
A: Stick packs are long, slim pouches using less material, while sachets are square/rectangular and suitable for larger doses.
Q2: Can one machine handle both powders and liquids?
A: Usually no. Machines are customized: auger fillers for powders, piston fillers for liquids/gels.
Q3: What industries use silica gel stick pack packaging machines?
A: Food (snack bags), pharma (tablet bottles), and electronics (moisture protection).
Q4: How fast can a multi-lane stick pack machine run?
A: High-speed models can reach up to 960 sticks per minute.
